17-oxygenated 2beta, 19-epoxy-5alpha-androstan-3alpha-ols, ethers and esters thereof



United States Patent 3 179,922 17-0XYGENATED ZfijlQ-dlOXY-Su-ANDRGSTAN- 3a-QLS, ETEERS AND ESTERS THEREGT Raymond E. Couusell, Shoirie, and Paul D. Kinnstra,

Northhroolr, EL, assignors to G. D. Searie 6: (30., Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 295,247 Claims. (63. ass-239.55

CHa

Ag ltd wherein R can be hydrogen, a lower a kanoyl or lower alkyl radical and X represents a carbonyl or radical, Y indicating hydrogen or a lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, or lower alkynyl group.

Examples of the lower alkanoyl radicals symbolized by R in the foregoing structural representation are acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl, and the corresponding branched-chain isomers.

The lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, and lower alkynyl radicals represented by Y contain less than 8 carbon atoms and are typified by methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, secondarybutyl, tertiary-amyl, heptyl, vinyl, propenyl, allyl, pentenyl, heptenyl, ethynl, propynyl, butynyl, heptnl, and the corresponding branched-chain groups isomeric therewith.

The compounds of the present invention are useful in view of their valuable pharmacological properties. They are hypocholesterolemic agents, for example, in view of their ability to elfect a decrease in blood plasma cholesterol concentration. In addition, they display hormonal and anti-hormonal properties as is evidenced by their anabolic, androgenic, and estrogen-inhibitory properties.

A process suitable for the manufacture of the instant compounds involves the oxidation of starting materials represented by the structural formula 0 H3 CH:

wherein X' represents a carbonyl or o (lower alkyl) radical, Y being hydrogen or a lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl radical, and Z is a lower alkanoyl or lower alkyl group. These materials are conveniently obtained by reaction of the corresponding 25,3;9-epoxides with a lower alkanoic acid. Typically 2,8,3fi-epoxy-5ot-androstan- 17-one is heated With glacial acetic acid to afiord Zia-acetoxy-Zfi-hydroXy-Sa-androstan-l7-one. Similarly, the reaction of that 25,3,8-ep oxy compound with methanol yields 2fl-hy'droxy-3m-methQXy-Sa-androstan-17-one. The oxidation process utilizing these ZQ-hydroxy substances re quires the use of a reagent such as lead tetraacetate, lead tetraacetate with iodine, silver acetate with iodine, .and mercuric acetate with iodine. The process is preferably conducted at the reflux temperature of the particular solvent selected, which may be an inert non-polar organic solvent such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, etc. A specific example of that process is the reaction of 3oc-ElCfilZOXY-Zfi-llYClIOXY-Socandrostan-17-one with lead tetraacetate and iodine in carbon tetrachloride, resulting in 3u-acetoxy-2fi,l9-epoxy- 5u-androstan-l7-one.

Reduction of the l7-keto compounds of this invention provides an alternate route to the corresponding l7,8- hydroxy derivatives. The aforementioned 3a-acetoxy- 2 8,l9-epoxy-5a-androstan-l7-one, for example, is allowed to react with sodium borohydride in methanol at room temperature to yield 2B,l9-epoxy-5a-androstane-3a,17,8- diol 3-acetate.

The 3u-hydroxy compounds of this invention can be produced by hydrolysis of the corresponding 3u-alkanoyloxy compounds in a suitable alkaline medium. The reaction of Zfi,l9-ep0Xy-5oz-andr0Stane-3 a,l7,B-diol 3-acetate, for example, in methanol with an aqueous solution of an inorganic alkali such as 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide, affords the corresponding free diol. 7

When the instant l7-lreto compounds are contacted with a suitable organometallic reagent, the instant 17o:- (hydrocarbon-substituted)-l7,8-ols are produced. The reaction of lithium acetylide, for example, with the aforementioned 3a-acetoxy-2,8,19-epoxy 50c androstan-l7-one alfords 2,8,19-epoxy-17a ethynyl-5a-androstane-3at,175: diol, while that 17-keto substance yields 2,8,19-epoxy-17vzmethyl-5u-androstane-3u,l7B-diol when contacted with methyl magnesium bromide in a mixture of tetrahydro furan and ether.

The instant l7a-alkynyl substances can be converted to the corresponding 17ot-alkyl derivatives in which the alkyl group contains more than one carbon atom. The aforementioned 2fi,l9 epoxy 17oz ethynyl 5oz-androstane- 30:,17fi-di0l, for example, is hydrogenated in ethanol solution, utilizing 5% palladium-on-carbon as the cataylst, in order to produce the l7ot-ethyl derivative.

An alternate method for the manufacture of the instant l7u-alkenyl compounds involves partial catalytic hydrogenation of the aforementioned l7a-alkynyl substances. As a specific example, 2B,l9-epoxy-17a-ethynyl- 5ot-androstane-3a,17fi-diol dissolved in a suitable organic amine such as pyridine, is stirred in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of a 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst to produce Zfi,19-5POXY-17a-VlnYl-5oz-3Ildi'fl5lfll'lfi- 3a,]7fi-diol.

The 306-(10V3I' alkanoyDoxy compounds of this in- Vention can be produced also by esterification of the parent 3 x-ols. Thus, 17ot-methyl-2B,l9-epoxy-5a-androstane-3a,17/3-diol is contacted with acetic anhydride and pyridine to afford the 3oc-acetoxy derivative.

An alternate method for the manufacture of the instant Boa-(lower alkoxy) compounds involves alkylation of the corresponding 3a-hydroxy substances. 2,B,l9-epoxy-3ahydroxy-5a-androstan-l7-one, for example, is allowed to react with methyl iodide in the presence of potassium tertiary-butoxide to yield 2,8,l9-epoxy-3a-methOXy-Saandrostan-l7-one.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are given by way of illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting in spirit or in scope, as many modifications in materials and EXAMPLE 1 A mixture of parts of 2,8,3fi-epoxydaandrostan-l7- one and 130 parts oi glacial acetic acid is heated on the steam bath for about 4 /2jhours, then is allowed to stand at room temperature for about hours. The reaction mixture is poured slowly into a mixture of ice and water, and this aqueous mixture is extracted with ether. The ether solution is washed successivay with water and 15% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, then is dried over anyhdrous potassium carbonate containing decolorizing carbon, and is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in benzene, then is chromatographed on a silica gel column. The column is eluted with 10% ethyl acetate in benzene to afford a fraction which, after recrystallization from acetone-hexane, affords Ba-acetoxy- 25-113 roXy-Sa-androstan-17-one, melting at about 190- 192". It is characterized further by an optical rotation of |107.5 in chloroform.

EXAMPLE 2 The substitution of 160 parts of propionic acid for acetic acid in the procedure of Example 1 results in 2,8-hydroxy-3a-propionoxy-Sa-androstan-17-one.

EXAMPLE 3 To a solution of 3.5 parts of 'lwacetox -2fi-l1ydroxy-5aandrostan-l'Y-one in 430 parts or" carbon tetrachloride is added 13.3 parts of lead tetraacetate and 5 parts of iodine, and the resulting reaction mixture is stirred at the reflux temperature for about 8 hours, then is lrept at room temperature for about 16 hours. The insoluble salts which form are removed by filtration and washed on the filter with methylene chloride. The filtrate is washed twice with 10% aqueous sodium tniosulfate, then with water, and is finally dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Distillation of the solvent at reduced pressure affords a solid residue which is recrystallized from acetone-heptane to afiord 3cc-21CLiC Xat),l9-6pGXy-5a-Z1i1d1'OSla1't-i7-0I1, melting .at about 175480". A second recrystallization from aqueous acetone affords a sample of the pure material, melting at about 1835-185 and characterized further by an optical rotation or" +87 in chloroform. This compound is represented by the structural formula o omit 0" EXAMPLE 4 The substitution of 3.64 parts of 2pi-hydroxy-3a-propionoxy-M-androstan-17-one in the procedure of Example 3 results in 25,19-epoxy-3ot-propionoxy-5o-androstan-17-one of the structural formula.

0 ll l CHgCEzC O EXAMPLE 5 A mixture of 4 parts of 31x-acetoxy-2p,19-epoxy-5uandrostan-17-one, 2 parts of potassium hydroxide, 78 parts of methanol, and 2 parts of water is heated at the reflux temperature for about one hour, then is cooled and poured slowly into a mixture of ice and water. The precipitate which results is collected by filtration, Washed on the filter with water, then recrystallized from acetone to afford pure 2,6,19-epoxy-3whydrOXy-Sa-andmstan-17-one, melting at about 216-218 It displays an optical rotation of +9G25 in chloroform and is further characterized b the structural formula HO H To a solution of one part of 3a-acetoxy-Zii,l9-epo7iy-i. a

5u-androstan-17-one in 13.3 parts of tetrahydrofuran, in a nitrogen atmosphere, is added, at about 5 with stirri :g, a solution of 3 parts of lithium tri- (tertiary-butoxy) alui .inum hydride in 13.3 parts of tetrahydrofuran. The reaction mixture is stirred for about one hour, during which time the mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature. This solution is then poured into approximately 175 parts by volume of a mixture of ice and 10% aqueous acetic acid, and the precipitate which results is collected by filtration, then is washed on the filter with water and is dried in air. Recrystallization of this solid material from acetone-hexane results in pure 2,8,19-epoxy-5a-androstane- 3a,17B-diOl 3-acetate, melting at about 163.5. It is further characterized by an optical rotation of +26.5 in chloroform and by the structural formula O outdo" Method B The reduction of 4.16 parts of 25,19-epoxy-3a-propi0noxy-5 -androstan-17-one by either of the procedures described in Example 6 affords 2,8,19epoxy-5a-androstaneture for about one hour.

OH OCH I o crr crniin" EXAMPLE 8 To a solution of 7.5 parts of 2e,l9-epoXy-5a-androstane- 3u,17,B-di0l 3-acetate in 360 parts of methanol is added 50 parts by volume of 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide, and the resulting mixture is heated at the reflux tempera- Cooling of this mixture followed by dilution with water results in precipitation of the product which is collected by filtration and recrystallized from methanol to yield pure 26,19-epoxy-5e-androstane3u,l7fl-diol. It displays a melting point of about 252.5254 and an optical rotation of +225? in chloroform. This compound is characterized also by the structural formula Ito 2 EXAMPLE 9 To a solution of 3 parts of 30z-EtCetOXy2,B,19-Bp0Xy-5azandrostan-17-one in 54 parts of redistilled tetrahydrofuran containing 42 parts of ether is added, dropwise with stirring, a solution of 42 parts of volume of 3 molar ethereal methyl magnesium bromide. The reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature with stirring for about 4 hours, after which time it is cooled to -5", and a solution of 8 parts of ammonium chloride in 60 parts of Water is added dropwise with stirring. This aqueous mixture is extracted with chloroform, and the organic extract is washed successively with dilute hydrochloric acid and water. The organic layer is separated, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and distilled to dryness under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product is purified by successive recrystallizations from aqueous ethanol and methanol-ethyl acetate to afford 213,19-epoxy-17a-methyl- 5a-androstane-3a,17fi-diol, possessing a melting point of about 222-224 and an optical rotation of +0.5 in ethanol. It is characterized further by the structural formula A solution of 8 parts of a 30% lithium acetylide-70% ethylene diamine complex in 45 parts of tetrahydrofuran is stirred in a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature while a solution of 3 parts of 3a-acetoXy-2fl,l9-epoxy-5aandrostan-l7-one in 45 parts of tetrahydrofuran is added 7 dropwise over a period of about 30 minutes. The resulting solution is stirred at room temperature for about 2 hours longer, after which time approximately 0.2 ,part of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride is added. This mixture is poured into ice and Water, then is acidified by the addition of hydrochloric acid. After stirring for several minutes, the precipitate is collected by filtration, washed on the filter with Water, and dried in air, then recrystallized from methanol to afford 2fi,19-epoXy-17aethynyl-Su-androstane-Ba,17B-diol, melting at about 295-.

299 With decomposition. Further purification is effected by another recrystallization from ethanol. This substance is represented by the structural formula EXAMPLE 11 To a solution of 9.95 parts of 2;3,19-epoxy-17a-ethynyl- 5a-androstane-30:,17B-di0l in 1000 parts of pyridine is added one part of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst, and the resulting reaction mixture is stirred in a hydrogen atmosphere at atmospheric pressure and room temperature until one molecular equivalent of hydrogen is absorbed. The catalyst is removed by filtration, and the filtrate is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure to afford an oil Which solidifies on standing. Recrystallization of that solid from aqueous methanol affords 2 8,l9-epoxy- 17u-vinyl-5a-androstane-3u,17,6-diol monohydrate, melting at about 183.5- and displaying an optical rotation of +9 in chloroform. It is further characterized by .the structural formula 7 OH (PrrOHZ '---oH=oHr Vii EXAMPLE 12 To a solution of 1.5 parts of 2 6,19-epoxy-17a-ethyny1- 5a-androstane-3a,l7/8-diol in 16 parts of ethanol is added 0.15 part of 5% palladium-on-carbon catalyst, and the mixture which results is shaken with hydrogen at atmospheric pressure and room temperature until the absorption of 2 molecular equivalents of hydrogen is completed. Removal of the catalyst by filtration and the solvent by distillation at reduced pressure affords a residue which is recrystallized from aqueous ethanol to afford 2 3,19- epoXy-l7a-ethyl-5ct-androstane-3a,17fl-diol. It is represented by the following structural formula 7 EXAMPLE 13 A solution of 6 parts of l-butyne in 40 parts of cold ether is added portionwise, over a period of about 30 minutes, to a'solution of butyl lithium, prepared from 17.3 parts of l-bromobutane and 2.2 parts of lithium'wire in 27 parts of ether. After the addition is completed, the mixture is stirred for about 90 minutes at at the end of which time is added a solution of 10.1 parts of 25,19-

,epoxy-3ct-hydoxy-5a-androstan-17-one in 100 parts of tetrahydrofuran over a period of about 30 minutes. The

ether is then removed by distillation, during which operation the volume is maintained essentially constant by the addition of tetrahydrofuran. After the ether has been removed, the resulting reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 3 hours, then is poured slowly into cold water. This aqueous mixture is extracted with ether, and the resulting organic solution is washed successively with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride. Drying over anhydrous sodium sulfate followed by removal of the solvent by distillation at reduced pressure affords 17a-(1-butynyl) 2e,19-epoxy-5u-androstane-3a, 17,8-diolof the structural formula (P4311? -CECCHzCHa EXAMPLE 14 The substitution of 10.8 parts of 17a-(1-butylyl) -2B,19- epoxy-5a-androstane-3a,17,B-diol in the reduction process disclosed in Example 11 affords 17a-(1-butenyl)-2B,19- epoxy-5a-androstane-3a,17B-diol.

EXAMPLE 15 EXAMPLE 16 The acylation of 5.5 parts of 2p,19-epoxy-17a-ethynyl- 5oz-androstane-3a,17,8-diol by the processes described in '8 Example 15 results in 2,8,l9-epoxy-l7a-ethynyl-5wandrostane-3e,l7,8-diol 3-acetate of the structural formula 0 cnsii 0" Vi EXAMPLE 17 By substituting 5.6 parts of 2,8,19-epoxy-17a-viny1-5aandrostane-3a,17/3-diol and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 15, 25,19- epoxy 17cc vinyl 5oz androstane 311,175 diol 3- acetate is obtained. It can be represented by the structural formula EXAMPLE 18 A solution of 1.5 parts of 2/3,3fl-epoxy-5u-androstan- 17-one in 16 parts of methanol containing 01 part of concentrated sulfuric acid is heated at the reflux temperature for about 4 hours, then is poured into approximately parts of a mixture of ice and water. The resulting precipitate is collected by filtration, Washed on the filter with water, and dried. Recrystallization of that solid material from acetone-hexane affords ZB-hydroxy-3a-nethoxy-Sa-androstan-17-one, melting at about 172-173 and displaying an optical rotation of +101 in chloroform.

EXAMiLE 19 Method A A mixture of 10.5 parts of 2/3-hydroxy-3oc-methoXy-Saandrostan-l7-one, 40 parts of lead tetraacetate, 15 parts of iodine, and 1440 parts of carbon tetrachloride is heated at the reflux temperature for about 8 hours, then is cooled and filtered. The filter cake is washed with carbon tetrachloride, and the filtrate is washed successively with Water, 1% aqueous sodium thiosulfate until the iodine color does not reappear, and 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate. This organic solution is then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing decolorizing carbon and is stripped of solvent at reduced pressure to afford an oily residue. That residue is then chromatographed on a silica gel column to yield 25,19-epoxy- 3a-methoxy-5a-androstan-17-one, which is characterized by infrared absorption maxima at about 3.4, 5.75, 9.1, and 9.3 microns, and by the structural formula A 3 (Iliad 9 Method B To a solution of 2.5 parts of 25,19-epoXy-3a-hydroxy- 5m-androstan-17-0ne in 44 parts of benzene, in a nitrogen atmosphere, is added successively, at room temperature with stirring, 1.5 parts of potassium tertiary-butox- 5 ide and 6 parts of methyl iodide. This reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for about 16 hours, then is filtered to remove the potassium iodide which forms. The filtrate is washed successively with water, 5% aqueous ammonium chloride, and Water, then is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing decolorizing carbon. Removal of the solvent by distillation at reduced pressure afiords 2 8,19-epoXy-3a-methoxy-Sa-androstan- 17-one, identical with that material described in Method A.

EXAMPLE 20 To a solution of parts by volume of 3 M ethereal methyl magnesium bromide in parts of ether is added, over a period of about 30 minutes with stirring, a solu- 20 tion of 2 parts of 2B,19-epoxy-3u-methoXy-SOt-andrOstan- 17-0ne in 35 parts of dry ether. This reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 16 hours, then is cooled and poured into a mixture of ice and water containing sufficient hydrochloric acid for neu- 25 tralization. This aqueous mixture is extracted with ether, and the ether extract is washed with water, then is dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate containing decolorizing carbon. Removal of the solvent by distillation at reduced pressure attords a glass which is adsorbed on a 30 silica gel chromatographic column. The column is eluted with benzene solutions containing increasing proportions of ethyl acetate. The 15% ethyl acetate in benzene eluate atfords, after distillation of the solvent, 213,19- epoxy 3o: metlioxy 17o: methyl c androstan- 35 175-01, melting at about 159-161". It is characterized further by the structural formula wherein -R is selected from the group consisting of hy- 6O drogen, methyl, and

i V (i- (lower alkyl) radicals, and X is a member of the class of radicals consisting of carbonyl, ,B-hydroxymethylene, and those represented by the formulas (lower alkyl) (lower alkenyl) o o g OH and I (lower alkynyl) 1G 2. 213,19-epoxy-3 a-methOXy-Sa-andwstan- 1 7-one.' 3. 25,19 epoxy-3oz-methoxy-l7a-methyl-5u-androstan- -01. 4. 26,19-epoxy-3u-hydrOXy-Sa-androstan-17-one. 5 25,19-epoxy-5a-androstane3 0:,17fi-diQl. 6. A compound of the formula,

I I CH3 0H OCH: L

(\ :-(lower alkyl) 7. 25,19-epoxy-1h-methyl- 5a androstane-3rx,17fidiol.

8. A compound of the formula 10. A compound of the formula -(lower alkynyl) HO/VIEZIJ 11. 2B,19-epoxy-17a-ethynyl 5oz androstane-3a,17fdiol.

12. A compound of the formula O OCH;

0 (lower alkyl) y! 0" 13. Sa-acetoxy-Zfi,19-epoxy-5a-androstan-17-0ne. 14. A compound of the formula 0 (lower alk n-ii 0" 15. 25,19-epoxy-5a-androstane-3a,17 8-dio1 3-acetate.

References Cited in the file of this patent Heusler et a1.: Helv. Chim. Acta., vol. 45, No. 7, December 1962, pp. 2575-2590.

Kwok et al.: J. Oreg. Chem, vol. 28, No. 2, February 1963, pp. 423-427. I 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 